Dog Control Orders

A set of new Dog Control Orders came into effect on the 1 February 2007. It brings the Council's existing orders in line with the provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (CNEA), and adds the Cathedral Green to the areas already covered

Dog

The new orders cover offences relating to:

• Failing to pick up after your dog
• Failing to keep a dog on a lead on roads, pavements, footpaths and designated parks
• Allowing a dog within certain designated areas where dogs are excluded, like fenced children's play areas
• Not putting, keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer.

Relevant signs have been placed citywide to inform dog owners.  Owners who neglect these duties will be issued with a fixed penalty notice and fine of £75.  The fines are payable within fourteen days of issue, and failure to do so may lead to prosecution.  The maximum fine on prosecution for offences under these Orders is currently set at £1000.

The four new Orders are:

1. The Fouling of Land by Dogs (Exeter) Order 2006 – introduces the offence of failing to remove faeces.
    The Fouling of Land by Dogs (Exeter) Order 2006 [74kb]
2. The Dogs Exclusion (Exeter) Order 2006 – excludes dogs from enclosed areas such as children's play areas. Note this order includes parts of the Cathedral Green which were not currently covered.
    The Dogs Exclusion (Exeter) Order 2006 1st draft on 150506.doc [72kb] 
    Cathedral Green [534kb]
3. The Dogs on Leads (Exeter) Order 2006 – requires  dogs to be kept on leads on each and every length of road (which includes pavements and/or footways) and also at St Thomas Pleasure Ground, Northernhay Gardens, Bury Meadow and Pinces Gardens Pleasure Grounds and on parts of the Cathedral Green. 
    The Dogs on Leads (Exeter) Order 2006 1st Draft dated 150506 [73kb]
    Cathedral Green [534kb]
4. The Dogs on Leads by Direction (Exeter) Order 2006 – a person in charge of a dog shall be guilty of an offence if he does not comply with a direction given to him by an authorised officer to put and keep the dog on a lead.  This is a new power and would apply to any land in the open air to which the public have access.  This power will be used where dogs being exercised off the lead are causing problems to other users of the land and it is felt the dog should be kept under control.
    The Dogs on Leads by Direction (Exeter) Order 2006 [73kb]

You can report incidents of breaches of the dog control Orders using the Online eForm below:

Online eForm

• Report an Environmental Health Issue